This Date in Football: Happy Birthday, James Lofton

On this date in football, July 5, 2012, Pro Football Hall of Famer James Lofton turns 56. Lofton spent his first 9 NFL seasons with the Packers, and in 7 of them was named to the Pro Bowl. In both 1983 and ’84 he totaled 1300+ receiving yards while averaging over 22 yards per reception. For his career, Lofton averaged 18.3 yards per catch…on 764 receptions! Compare that to the most dangerous deep-threat of the modern era, Randy Moss, who never averaged more than 19 yards per catch in a single season.

As we send happy birthday wishes to Lofton, here’s a look back at him as originally presented in 1991 on This is the NFL.